GOLF, KIDS AND A CHEESEBURGER - JAMAICA TOURIST ISSUE 13
BY KIRK PAGENKOPF
Kirk Pagenkopf has worked in the golf industry for more than 20 years and is currently the Executive Vice President and Publisher of PGA Magazine Publications and Marketing Group. He and his family regularly visit Jamaica for family vacations. Kirk, his wife Renee and their 3 kids live in Atlanta, Georgia.
Golf is my profession as well as my passion but there are times when I just want to get away from the game, the business and the sport. When I travel with my family, I look for time with them and golf takes a back seat. This is true of almost every destination we travel to with the exception of Jamaica.
Jamaica is a special place for my family and I and over the last 8 years, we have spent considerable time in the Rose Hall area and have to come to love the people, the place and our time there. But a trip to Jamaica is not complete unless I have the chance to get out and play at least one round with the kids.
A day of golf breaks up the beach time, the sightseeing, the kite boarding, the horseback riding, and all of the other stuff we like to do and gives us time to slow down and spend some great time together, walking, talking and laughing as we play a little golf.
Golf in Jamaica is different. It is more peaceful, more relaxed, more casual and more fun. Not concerned with shooting a number or where every shot lands, or how many putts I have, golf in Jamaica is unique and our vacation is not complete unless we get the chance to play.
Golf is meant to be a journey, an odyssey that allows each person to have a unique experience. Each golf course is different, the conditions and our swings vary by day, so no single day on the golf course is like any other. Nowhere is this truer than in Jamaica.
The White Witch is my daughter Natalie’s favorite course because of the views and she can take pictures of the Caribbean from 16 of the 18 holes - plus she thinks the cheeseburger at the White Witch is the best on island and at 13 she has become an expert of this particular epicurean delight.
My son, Aaron, loves Half Moon because he can walk with a caddie carrying just his bag and he gets the taste of what it is like to be a Professional Golfer and have someone on your bag, assisting with course management, making shot recommendations, helping to read putts and clean clubs. He also likes the fact that he doesn’t have to rake the bunkers, which he seems to find on more than one of the holes. Half Moon is a good walk enhanced by the personalities of the caddies who love to teach us about the history of Jamaica, and the people.
My daughter, Jessica, loves Cinnamon Hill because it has some “cool stuff” around the course like Johnny Cash’s home and a waterfall that was used as the backdrop in one of the James Bond movies... she thinks that is really cool. The Cinnamon Hill golf course also offers three of the best ocean-side holes in the Caribbean. Jessie’s favorite hole is #6 because it plays right over the ocean with the waves crashing around her – even though she has more balls in the water than on the green – it is the journey that matters.
My favorite is wherever the kids want to play. All of the courses are in great shape, well designed and offer challenges for even scratch golfers. In my opinion, golf offers parents a unique experience with their kids and gives them a chance to connect on a different level than almost any other activity. Have you ever seen your kids make a 30’ putt, or hit a perfect chip shot to save par – their faces light up; they are proud that in their own way, they too can be a little like Tiger or Annika.
For me, there are few better ways to spend a late afternoon in Jamaica than on one of the three Rose Hall area golf courses. Creating the memory of a day with the kids on the links, watching them have fun, not really caring how you play, and enjoying the warm gentle breezes of Jamaica as you make your way around the golf course is quite a special day for any dad.
So, if you find yourself in the Rose Hall area with the kids, give the golf courses a call and set up a time. All of the local golf professionals will go out of their way to accommodate you and make sure that you create some special memories and the kids will have a journey not soon forgotten.
For the White Witch Golf Course, call 518-0174. www.whitewitchgolf.com
For the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, call 953-2984. www.cinnamonhilljamaica.com
For the Half Moon Golf Course, call 953-2211. www.halfmoongolf.com
Kirk Pagenkopf has worked in the golf industry for more than 20 years and is currently the Executive Vice President and Publisher of PGA Magazine Publications and Marketing Group. He and his family regularly visit Jamaica for family vacations. Kirk, his wife Renee and their 3 kids live in Atlanta, Georgia.
Golf is my profession as well as my passion but there are times when I just want to get away from the game, the business and the sport. When I travel with my family, I look for time with them and golf takes a back seat. This is true of almost every destination we travel to with the exception of Jamaica.
Jamaica is a special place for my family and I and over the last 8 years, we have spent considerable time in the Rose Hall area and have to come to love the people, the place and our time there. But a trip to Jamaica is not complete unless I have the chance to get out and play at least one round with the kids.
A day of golf breaks up the beach time, the sightseeing, the kite boarding, the horseback riding, and all of the other stuff we like to do and gives us time to slow down and spend some great time together, walking, talking and laughing as we play a little golf.
Golf in Jamaica is different. It is more peaceful, more relaxed, more casual and more fun. Not concerned with shooting a number or where every shot lands, or how many putts I have, golf in Jamaica is unique and our vacation is not complete unless we get the chance to play.
Golf is meant to be a journey, an odyssey that allows each person to have a unique experience. Each golf course is different, the conditions and our swings vary by day, so no single day on the golf course is like any other. Nowhere is this truer than in Jamaica.
The White Witch is my daughter Natalie’s favorite course because of the views and she can take pictures of the Caribbean from 16 of the 18 holes - plus she thinks the cheeseburger at the White Witch is the best on island and at 13 she has become an expert of this particular epicurean delight.
My son, Aaron, loves Half Moon because he can walk with a caddie carrying just his bag and he gets the taste of what it is like to be a Professional Golfer and have someone on your bag, assisting with course management, making shot recommendations, helping to read putts and clean clubs. He also likes the fact that he doesn’t have to rake the bunkers, which he seems to find on more than one of the holes. Half Moon is a good walk enhanced by the personalities of the caddies who love to teach us about the history of Jamaica, and the people.
My daughter, Jessica, loves Cinnamon Hill because it has some “cool stuff” around the course like Johnny Cash’s home and a waterfall that was used as the backdrop in one of the James Bond movies... she thinks that is really cool. The Cinnamon Hill golf course also offers three of the best ocean-side holes in the Caribbean. Jessie’s favorite hole is #6 because it plays right over the ocean with the waves crashing around her – even though she has more balls in the water than on the green – it is the journey that matters.
My favorite is wherever the kids want to play. All of the courses are in great shape, well designed and offer challenges for even scratch golfers. In my opinion, golf offers parents a unique experience with their kids and gives them a chance to connect on a different level than almost any other activity. Have you ever seen your kids make a 30’ putt, or hit a perfect chip shot to save par – their faces light up; they are proud that in their own way, they too can be a little like Tiger or Annika.
For me, there are few better ways to spend a late afternoon in Jamaica than on one of the three Rose Hall area golf courses. Creating the memory of a day with the kids on the links, watching them have fun, not really caring how you play, and enjoying the warm gentle breezes of Jamaica as you make your way around the golf course is quite a special day for any dad.
So, if you find yourself in the Rose Hall area with the kids, give the golf courses a call and set up a time. All of the local golf professionals will go out of their way to accommodate you and make sure that you create some special memories and the kids will have a journey not soon forgotten.
For the White Witch Golf Course, call 518-0174. www.whitewitchgolf.com
For the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, call 953-2984. www.cinnamonhilljamaica.com
For the Half Moon Golf Course, call 953-2211. www.halfmoongolf.com
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